Chapter 32: Discord

The whole country was full of smoke, and Han Xin, the young general of the Han army, made a major breakthrough in the north, and Wei, Zhao, and Yan were pacified. And he is leading the army to Qidi, preparing to fight to the death with Qidi. The situation in the south was even more volatile and intense, especially in Xingyang, the main battlefield, where the Chu and Han sides were deadlocked, and both sides invested a lot of troops and resources. The long-lasting tug-of-war has made this place a purgatory on earth, with countless dead and wounded Ding Zhuang, and the soldiers in the rear are almost unable to keep up, and even the old, weak, sick and disabled are sent to the front line.

The top leaders of Chu and Han did not have time to rest, they had to rack their brains to find the quickest solution, and no one wanted to fight a protracted war. The atmosphere of the high-level meeting of the Han army was extremely intense, and a major issue had just been vetoed, but they could not think of a better way.

At this time, a high-ranking official who had just defected from the military camp of the Chu State volunteered to put forward a plan, that is, to disintegrate the core layer of the Chu army. This high-ranking official of the Chu State has mastered the high-level military secrets of the Chu State and knows the core of the Chu army well. His suggestion seems to have brought a ray of light to the Han army. This high-ranking official of the Chu State was called Chen Ping, and he would be an important adviser to the Han army in the future.

【Chen Ping】

Chen Ping, a native of Humu Township, Yangwu County, Dangjun County (now Yuanyang County, Henan Province), if you just look at his appearance, you will definitely think that Chen Ping is a rich son. Because of his appearance, he was a beautiful man of that era. Even today, I believe it will definitely amaze the whole country, he is the kind of handsome guy with exquisite facial features, clear eyebrows, white and clean, and he is the male god in the minds of many girls. Chen Ping also feels confident in his appearance, and his love life is also very rich. There are even rumors that Chen Ping had an affair with his sister-in-law. With such a stunning appearance like his, many people think that he eats soft rice. Indeed, at the beginning of his fortune, Chen Ping did not have much ability and assets.

Chen Ping's family is not wealthy. Similar to Han Shin, he was also an orphan whose parents died young. But he was a hundred times luckier than Han Shin because he had an older brother who loved him and took care of him. It was the older brother who raised him to adulthood, and the elder brother was much older than him, and he pampered him and left him all that was good. The elder brother lives on only 30 acres of cultivated land on weekdays, and bears the burden of life alone. Like this kind of heavy and tiring work, my brother is not allowed to Chen Ping to touch. Therefore, Chen Ping has not endured much hardship since he was a child, and his skin is well maintained.

It was precisely because his brother indulged him too much that his sister-in-law was a little unhappy. The sister-in-law even complained to outsiders everywhere, saying that it is better to have one more than one less uncle like this kind of uncle who doesn't work and wastes rice. (Also eat chaff.) If there is an uncle, it is better to have nothing. "Historical Records - Chen Chengxiang's Family")

How similar this scene is. When Liu Ji and Han Xin were eating at other homes, they all suffered this kind of treatment. But Chen Ping was luckier than them, because Chen Ping had an elder brother who loved him very much, and when the elder brother heard that his wife treated his brother badly like this, he abandoned his wife in a fit of anger. The wife can remarry, and there is only one brother.

When he reached the marriageable age, Chen Ping also faced a major life problem of marrying a wife and having children. A male god like him who looks so handsome is very pleasing to girls, but unfortunately, women at that time did not have the right to choose their spouses, and marriage should be decided by their parents. When elders choose sons-in-law, what they value is not their appearance, but their family background and social relationships, which seems to be a sign of "maturity". Choosing marriage means choosing life and destiny. Therefore, Chen Ping, a marriageable young man, did not win the love of his elders with his beauty, which eventually led to the situation that "the daughter of a rich family refuses to marry, and he looks down on mediocre girls". (The rich are not willing to be with them, and the poor are ashamed.) "Historical Records - Chen Chengxiang's Family")

Men's eyes are always picky, even a little different. Chen Ping also has high requirements for his wife's appearance, and he decisively marries a woman who has already killed five husbands. A woman who can kill five husbands must also be a stunning and moving beauty. From the physiognomy point of view, this kind of woman's killer peach blossom, thin and sharp face, charming eyes, plump and upright, white skin and red skin, is very attractive to men. This kind of woman's ** is also very strong, and there are frequent sexual encounters, and few men can stand it, so the first five husbands died one by one. But Chen Ping could stand it.

Chen Ping chose this Kefu beauty as his wife, in addition to her beautiful appearance, more importantly, her family is wealthy, which can help her future life. And his wife's grandfather is also a businessman with a very good investment vision, named Zhang Ying. Grandfather Zhang Cheng could see that Chen Ping was a high-quality potential stock, although Chen Ping's residential location was not good, and it was a little dilapidated, not even a wooden door, just hung with a broken mat to cover it, indicating that there were no valuable things in the house. But the vision of businessmen is always very shrewd, grandfather Zhang Cheng judged through the rut marks outside Chen Ping's door that Chen Ping has a wide range of contacts, and those who can come by car must not be ordinary people, so grandfather Zhang Cheng also decisively decided to marry his granddaughter to Chen Ping. also posted the dowry upside down and lent money to Chen Ping as a dowry to marry his granddaughter, which was really a lot of money, effort and talent. Although his granddaughter's father disagreed, feeling that Chen Ping was a little idle, had no proper job, no car and no house, and would be laughed at by the county, but in the end, he couldn't beat his grandfather Zhang Cheng. Grandfather Zhang Cheng valued Chen Ping very much, and before getting married, he told his granddaughter to serve her husband's family well, and her brother and uncle were like father, and brother and sister-in-law were like mother. (Don't be poor, don't be careful.) A brother and uncle are like a father, and a sister-in-law is like a mother. "Historical Records - Chen Chengxiang's Family")

Chen Ping didn't care about the strange eyes of others. He doesn't care that others say that he eats soft rice, and he doesn't care that others say that he relies on a foreign family. He knows what his heart wants and what he is after. What he pursues is to get ahead, what he pursues is a noble life, and he doesn't have to care about the eyes of the world. Chen Ping, who can obviously rely on his face to eat, has to rely on his talent. Chen Ping is not a simple "little white face", he likes to read since he was a child, likes to study strategies, and has the world in his heart! (So that Ping can slaughter the world, just like meat!) "Historical Records - Chen Chengxiang's Family")

Like many young people from poor families, Chen Ping is eager to succeed. Han Xin worked hard to forge his military capabilities, while Chen Ping worked hard to figure out the leader's mind. Chen Ping is a person who knows how to grasp the current situation very well, and where there is a benefit to him, he will pounce on him - a typical utilitarian.

During the peace of the Qin Empire, he was the master of Lizhong, maintaining order in Lizhong, and helping to divide pork during festivals; When the anti-Qin storm arose, he followed Chen Sheng's subordinates, the team of Wei King Wei Ji to carry out revolution; When the Xiang group was strong, he took refuge under Xiang Yu to fight against the Han army; When the Han army was in full swing, he abandoned Chu and joined the Han to fight against the Chu army. In the eyes of outsiders, this is a kind of inflammation. (Things are not tolerated, and death is returned to Chu; returned to Chu and died to Han. "Historical Records - Chen Chengxiang's Family")

But he doesn't care about the eyes of the world, just as he doesn't care about the strange eyes of others when he first marries his wife. What he cares about is his choice, what he cares about is his life. It should be said that Chen Ping is a subordinate who knows how to lead very well, and he can mix in each camp to the core level. In the camp of the Wei state, he was the servant of the king of Wei, in charge of the carriage, such as Xiahou Ying of the Han army; In the camp of the Chu State, he was the commander of the overlord and advised the Chu army; Now in the camp of the Han Kingdom, he is the attendant of the King of Han, and he can also participate in important military affairs. No matter where he was, Chen Ping was the monarch's personal bodyguard, and the leaders liked to take him with him.

A snobbish and unprincipled master like him will certainly not be popular with his peers. Therefore, when he was in the Wei State, some people said bad things about him and sowed discord between him and Wei Wei, the king of Wei; When he was in the state of Chu, some people said bad things about him and sowed discord between him and the overlord Xiang Yu; When he was in the Han Kingdom, some people also said bad things about him and sowed discord between him and Liu Ji, the king of Han. In the eyes of others, Chen Ping's step into the body is to interfere with the powerful and slap the horse; The way to stand up is to see the wind and make the rudder, half-hearted; The mystery of the trick is to ask only the end and unscrupulous means; Among colleagues is to belittle others and exalt themselves (Yi Zhongtian).

When he first defected from the Chu camp to the Han camp, many high-ranking generals of the Han army actually did not approve of accepting him. Because they think that Chen Ping's character and integrity have big problems, such as hooking up with his brother and sister-in-law, Chaowei and Duchu, corruption and bribery, and so on.

Chen Ping has never paid much attention to these gossips. If it were normal, he wouldn't have responded at all, because he never had to explain to anyone else. At the beginning, when someone slandered him in front of Wei Wang, Chen Ping did not explain it to Wei Wei, Wei Wang; When someone slandered him in front of the overlord Xiang Yu, he didn't explain it to the overlord Xiang Yu. Because he doesn't think it's necessary, since you don't trust me, then I have no choice but to leave you.

This time, Chen Ping rarely explained to Liu Ji, the king of Han, that's right, he did serve Wei Ji, the king of Wei, and Xiang Yu, the overlord, but they didn't really trust him, so he left. The reason why he defected to the Han army was because it was rumored that Liu Ji, the king of Han, was good at employing people. This time, he did not deny that he had accepted bribes, but that was because he was penniless and needed cash flow. However, he didn't touch the money, and if the king of Han didn't trust him, he could confiscate it all. (The minister came naked, and he was not supported by money.) If there is something to be adopted in the Chengchen plan, the king will use it; If there is no available, the gold is there, please seal the official, and ask for the bones. "Historical Records - Chen Chengxiang's Family")

He just wants to make one point, that is, Hanwang, what kind of talent do you want. If Hanwang needs talents with good conduct, then Chen Ping and I may not be eligible; But if what Han Wang needs is a talent that can compete for the world, then Chen Ping and I may be able to help.

Chen Ping is a handsome guy with a lot of personality. He didn't need to beg for anything from others, if Liu Ji, the king of Han, didn't trust him, he would definitely leave, just like when he left Wei Ji, the king of Wei, and Xiang Yu, the overlord.

But Liu Ji, the king of Han, is different from Wei Wang Wei and Xiang Yu, the king of Han, Liu Ji knows what he needs, knows where the role of talents is, and how he should play it. In the eyes of Liu Ji, the king of Han, it is not a matter at all to steal gold, change camps, etc., because he knows that his character is not necessarily good, so he can accommodate the shortcomings of others. And the overlord Xiang Yu was born in a noble family, and he has high requirements for character and family education, and he cannot tolerate other people's moral flaws. (Overlord Xiang Yu should be a Virgo.) ）

In the end, Liu Ji, the king of Han, accepted Chen Ping. At the same time, Chen Ping was appointed as a lieutenant in the Protector Army, in charge of military secrets, and responsible for supervising the generals of various ministries - fully demonstrating the trust of the leadership. Not only that, but Chen Ping was additionally rewarded with a generous amount of money to solve his financial difficulties - Liu Jizhen, the king of Han, was a considerate leader.

At this time, the Han army was trapped in Xingyang, and the Chu army had just cut off the transportation of military rations. The high-level of the Han army tried a lot of methods, but none of them seemed to work, and even the long-standing letter of surrender did not receive a response, and it was impossible to seek peace. Now, Liu Ji, the king of Han, is in a desperate predicament. Chen Ping, who was familiar with the internal affairs of the Chu army, put forward a proposal during this critical period, that is, to implement a divisive plan to disintegrate the core layer of the Chu army.

The discord strategy, a strategy that many military strategists like to use throughout the ages, is also a common tactic in military warfare. Sun Wu, a famous Qi military strategist in the Spring and Autumn Period, specifically talked about this problem in his book "The Art of War". However, this tactic is easier said than done. Because the object of discord must be the enemy's monarch and his most trusted generals, these people are the enemy's core high-level. To implement such tactics, it is necessary to be very familiar with the enemy's military situation and be familiar with the enemy's high-level secrets. Otherwise, the spies sent out will be killed by the enemy, and in the end they will not be able to play a role in divisiveness. Moreover, the relationship between people is the most elusive, and it is difficult for outsiders to find out what kind of experience the enemy monarch has with his subordinates, and how good the relationship is.

Fortunately, there was Chen Ping in the military camp of the Han State, a former high-ranking officer of the Chu State, who had worked beside the overlord Xiang Yu for a long time and knew the military secrets of the Chu State well. He knows and is very familiar with the character of the overlord Xiang Yu, and he is very familiar with the character of several core members of the Chu army. He knew how good the relationship between the overlord Xiang Yu and these generals was, what contradictions existed, and what methods he could use to separate them.

Chen Ping made a detailed list of the core high-level officials of the Chu State and gave the four most important names - Fan Zeng, Zhong Liwu, Long Ji, and Zhou Yin. The latter three are the backbone of the Chu army, the most powerful general of the overlord Xiang Yu, but they are also the easiest targets to disintegrate. As long as they spend a lot of money to bribe the internal officials of the Chu army, let them spread rumors in the army, saying that these three generals have worked hard and made great achievements, but they have not been granted the title of king, and they are ready to divide the land of Chu and each of them as kings, so that they can divide the relationship between them and the overlord Xiang Yu. Because this is the weakness of the overlord Xiang Yu, what the overlord Xiang Yu is most worried about is that others are fighting for their own territory, and this kind of thing just happened in Qidi not long ago, and several generals who were not divided did rise up to resist.

What is more troublesome is how to separate the relationship between the overlord Xiang Yu and the father Fan Zeng. In the eyes of the outside world, even within the Chu army, everyone knows that the relationship between Fan Zeng and Xiang Yu is not ordinary. Since the Xiang Liang period, Fan Zeng has been following the Xiang Group to carry out revolutions and has been working hard for the group. Moreover, the overlord Xiang Yu was respectful to Fan Zeng, not only calling him his father, but also letting him everywhere and listening to him.

However, Chen Ping does not think so. He has been working by the side of Overlord Xiang Yu for a long time, and he knows that the relationship between Overlord Xiang Yu and his father Fan Zeng is not as good as rumored by the outside world, and there are not many contradictions accumulated between them. Although the overlord Xiang Yu was respectful to his father Fan Zeng on the surface, he was actually dissatisfied with Fan Zeng pointing at him in his heart.

【Xiang Yu】

The overlord Xiang Yu was also deeply trapped in the place of Xingyang, and he couldn't attack it for a long time, and he didn't see any signs of breaking the city for a long time. He has been a little uneasy lately, because there are rumors in the army that several high-ranking generals such as Zhong Liwu, Long Ji, and Zhou Yin are trying to rebel and establish themselves as kings. Although this possibility is not impossible, the overlord Xiang Yu still doesn't believe this rumor. Because these generals are his right-hand men and have been fighting side by side.

However, the rumors are not entirely unreasonable. In the heart of the overlord Xiang Yu, he did feel a little guilty. Because they have been fighting with themselves, but they have not been divided. Especially Long Ji, he and Long Ji have played and grown up together since childhood, and they are like brothers. Since the beginning of the army, Long Ji has been fighting side by side with him, and has experienced many life-and-death wars, and almost took his life several times. Not long ago, Tubu rebelled, and it was also Long He who went to suppress it. It can be said that the friendship between Long and Xiang Yu has been established for more than 20 years, and he has also made a lot of contributions, but he has not been divided, and the overlord Xiang Yu really feels very ashamed.

If Overlord Xiang Yu was suspicious of the rebellion of these three generals, then the next incident made him feel a little panicked.

The messenger who had just returned from the camp of the Han army in Xingyang reported such an incident to the overlord Xiang Yu. When they first arrived at the military camp of Liu Ji, the king of Han, the feast was full of sumptuous dishes. However, when they revealed their identity as envoys of the Chu army, the Han army lowered their reception standards, and replaced them with some coarse tea and light rice, which was not even as good as feeding the dogs. Moreover, the Han army officials were also very surprised, and said to themselves - I thought it was the envoy of General Fan Zeng, but it turned out to be the envoy of the overlord Xiang Yu.

Overlord Xiang Yu, who was familiar with military books and was well versed in tactics, did not see that this was the enemy's strategy. He was puzzled as to why the Han army would entertain Fan Zeng, and what collusion Fan Zeng had with the Han army. This verbose old man has always accused him of not being a big deal, and he looks down on him in his heart. Could it be that Fan Zeng is also going to join the Cheng Han Army? Although the overlord Xiang Yu did not have definite evidence, he had to start to guard against Fan Zeng.

Since then, for Fan Zeng's opinion, the overlord Xiang Yu always has a trace of doubt, and he is afraid that there is some conspiracy in it. Moreover, the overlord Xiang Yu also weakened Fan Zeng's authority and alienated Fan Zeng.

Overlord Xiang Yu's spirit began to be a little trance, and he always felt that everything around him was not very reliable, and his sleep quality was seriously reduced.

【Fan Zeng】

Fan Zeng, who is already in his 70s, has been serving in the Chu army and never thought that one day he would leave. He has already regarded the Chu Group as a part of his life, and it is a condensation of his efforts in the second half of his life.

He devoted all his energy to the Chu Group. He did his best in every decision-making suggestion, and he was worried about every military war. He is even more nervous than the overlord Xiang Yu and attaches more importance to the stakes. He didn't think that the overlord Xiang Yu would doubt his loyalty.

He was disappointed.

He felt that the overlord Xiang Yu was really too young, and he couldn't even see the enemy's little trick. At the Hongmen banquet at the beginning, if the overlord Xiang Yu hadn't been a woman's kindness and let the tiger return to the mountain, he would not have developed today's troubles. Fan Zeng really felt tired, he didn't know how to communicate with this young man who was not yet 30 years old, there seemed to be a deep generation gap between them.

He made a difficult decision, that is, to leave the Chu army camp and never again care about current affairs.

——The general trend of the world has been decided, and the king is good to do it. (The world is decided, and the king does it himself!) Please return the bones! "Historical Records - Chen Chengxiang's Family")

Overlord Xiang Yu agreed to his retirement application without hesitation.

Fan Zeng reluctantly embarked on the journey home. Military life has made his aging body even more aging, and he has been suffering from illness for a long time. On the bumpy road, the furious Fan Zeng finally left this world, never returned to his beloved Western Chu Kingdom, and returned to the familiar Pengcheng.

He died of dorsal gangrene. According to modern Western medicine, it is acute purulent cellulitis of the back, and the common cause is external rheumatic fire poison. Judging from today's medical level, this is not a serious disease at all, and it can be cured by a random township surgeon. If the patient is in good health and has strong resistance, as long as he pays attention to his diet, avoids alcohol, meat and spicy, does not get angry easily, and avoids mood swings, he can recover completely. However, how can Fan Zeng, who is dedicated to Chu, let go and how can he avoid mood swings. (Meng Haoran, a great genius of the Tang Dynasty, and Xu Da, the first hero of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, also died of back gangrene.) ）

The first strategist of the Western Chu Kingdom, the elderly Fan Zeng finally left this world with remorse and unwillingness.